Sunday, October 21, 2012

West Coast IPA

Now that Green Flash Brewing from San Diego is being distributed to South Florida, I decided to pick up the famous West Coast IPA and give it a taste for myself. As usual, the label is very simple: a thumbnail of a sunset over the water and the name of the beer. This label did add "Extravagantly Hopped" so you know you're in for something special.

Good head. The aroma is very nice--piney with a bit of spicy black pepper and plenty of pungent hops. Lots of pine flavors open things up, nice and bitter. But there is an in-and-out tropical pineapple fruity sweetness that adds just the perfect balance.

Some spiciness comes next and really works well together with the bitter grapefruit rind in waking up your palate. But then a soft sweet citrus balance shows through. Carbonation is big and aggressive. And after a bit you really taste the resinous pine flavors building up.

Tropical flavors start to appear as the beer warms, too. But you end with a long bitter and quite dry finish. The 7.3% alcohol was noticeable but well incorporated. Very nice IPA all around--great flavors and great nuances that really create a harmonious IPA.